You know summer is quickly approaching and your biggest concern is how your children can enjoy it the most. How can they experience new things and grow in new ways? Summer camp offers all kinds of fun and character-building experiences for children of any age. Whether you’re looking for a few hours of entertainment or weeks of intentional skill-building for your child, you can find it at camp.

Ages 0-5

Day camps offer the perfect opportunity for children to experience time away from mom and explore new activities. Camp for preschool children focuses on free play, sharing with others, inside and outside group games, and simple arts and crafts. If you’re sending your child to camp for the first time, make sure the schedule matches her personality and routine to prevent a stressful experience. Does there need to be naptime? Should your child be potty trained to attend? Would your child adjust more easily by starting with a half-day camp instead of full day? Are there appropriate breaks for snacks and changes in activity?

It’s important to find out what the counselor-to-camper ratio is for children this age. You want to ensure your child will be adequately cared for with a friendly, well-staffed team. You also want to determine if the counselors are trained to help with issues common to preschoolers including separation anxiety, potty training, and temper tantrums.

The best place to find camps for young children is through day cares, churches, nursery schools, and local elementary schools. Specialty camps also abound through gymnastic centers, music schools, and sporting centers. Consider your child’s interests and find a camp that fits to give your preschool child a chance to make new friends and explore new experiences.

Ages 6-11

Elementary-aged children thrive at camp. It’s the perfect solution to sibling squabbles and long summer days. But, it pays to do your research and find the right fit for your child.

Camps for this age range from sports camps to music camps to academic camps to church camps. Don’t let the variety intimidate you as you research. Start with the interests of your child and ask friends and neighbors to give opinions on camps their kids have attended.

This age group is ideal for children to enjoy activities not available at home like zip lining, archery, rock wall climbing, and swimming. Children gain independence as they make decisions and meet new friends outside of the comforts of home. They gain self-confidence in trying new activities. And they learn to appreciate the beauty of nature as they unplug from technology. Although they may experience periods of unfamiliarity, they learn to forge through their feelings with caring camp counselors and new friends.

Specialty camps close to home also help children explore new hobbies or create opportunities for parents and their young ones to enjoy camp together. A mother-daughter sewing camp or father-son golfing camp allows great bonding time while developing a skill enjoyed by both.

If your child hopes to one day attend an overnight camp, start with a day camp. It’s important that their first camp experience be a good one. If you find it wasn’t a perfect fit, try a different one next year. Don’t give up on the beauty and benefits of camp for elementary-aged children.

Ages 12-15

Tweens and teens have better focus than younger children and benefit from camps that more closely match their interests and personalities. Sports and music camps are great for this age and help kids advance athletic skills and enhance musical talent. Academic camps offer youth advanced-learning opportunities in subjects they might want to explore for long-term focus. And church camps offer character-building and self-awareness experiences not learned in school.

Camps provide a safe place for teens and tweens to hang out while parents work during summer break. Not yet able to drive or find a summer job, tweens this age too often walk into unsupervised trouble unless parents intentionally seek out creative options or allow technology to rule their days.

Junior high and high schools provide information for local camps worth investigating as the school year draws to a close. It’s also easy to scour the Internet for camps that match your child’s interests. Some camps provide certification such as lifeguard training or first aid certification that can enable your youth to successfully find a job upon completion.

Encourage your youth to research camps with you to find one that fits.

When children attend camp, they develop resilience and flexibility that benefits them later in life.  

Summer camp offers unique experiences and character-building opportunities for every child. Whether your child is two or 15, camp is the perfect place to find adventure and make lifelong memories in the process. Don’t delay: find a camp your child will enjoy today. ■